the network for radical unschooling families

New from NJ:)

Hi I'm a single mama to four boys, ages: 13, 11,6,5. I started "unschooling" about 4 years ago. We currently live in NJ, but are looking to relocate to FIorida. I have two boys I'm currently unschooling and two in school, at the moment, anyway. I grew up in Public school, but truly believe in the "living is learning" idea. Though it can sometimes be difficult with the majority of the society we're near who believes in schooling as the only way, or even structured HS'ing as the only "right" options. I have got alot of info and support online esp. from mothering.com forums. Glad to find this network:)

Rachael~

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by bLISs on April 24, 2009 at 12:24pm: hi rachael. i am from NY. we live in central OR. looks like you and i have tons in common. i also go on the mothering.com forums (i'm under the name of doublyblessed there).

you might enjoy my current blogs about merging my daughter (she is 6) out of her waldorf school. i've gone off and on from unschooling... mostly because i felt my daughter needed more of a community...the more the merrier so to speak. and i had severe PPD so it made it tough to even want to be w/ her too much or to do many things... i'm past this though and really want freedom in life for her, my son (he is almost 17 months) and myself.

which of your sons are in school right now? the oldest? do they wish to be there? have they said they want to stay there? how about your younger ones? do they want to go to school like brothers or stay free? (or maybe your olders are unschooled and your youngers schooled?)

my daughter wants to stay at her school. i don't know what to do. just say that isn't the plan...? and be a mama who decides for her at this young age??? or do i respect her wishes and keep her there?

i look forward to your reply. i need this support network and to hear from others who have felt as i do and who have gotten beyond that.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rachael on November 20, 2009 at 1:24pm: bLISs said:
hi rachael. i am from NY. we live in central OR. looks like you and i have tons in common. i also go on the mothering.com forums (i'm under the name of doublyblessed there).
you might enjoy my current blogs about merging my daughter (she is 6) out of her waldorf school. i've gone off and on from unschooling... mostly because i felt my daughter needed more of a community...the more the merrier so to speak. and i had severe PPD so it made it tough to even want to be w/ her too much or to do many things... i'm past this though and really want freedom in life for her, my son (he is almost 17 months) and myself. which of your sons are in school right now? the oldest? do they wish to be there? have they said they want to stay there? how about your younger ones? do they want to go to school like brothers or stay free? (or maybe your olders are unschooled and your youngers schooled?)

my daughter wants to stay at her school. i don't know what to do. just say that isn't the plan...? and be a mama who decides for her at this young age??? or do i respect her wishes and keep her there?

i look forward to your reply. i need this support network and to hear from others who have felt as i do and who have gotten beyond that.

Hi!! So sorry i'm only seeing this now. I haven't been on here in awhile and since moved to Florida. i would love to check out your blog out, it says u have to have an invite? My oldest and youngest were home and the two middle ones were in two different schools. I have them all home this year. My oldest has been saying he might want to go to High School, but we'd had some talks about why he is interested about going and that he really is craving more socializing with other kids. Which of course would be a not good reason to go to high school. So I am looking into finding some hs'ers/unsch'ers in the area. My younger one has said he'd like to go to a school at times, but again it seems to be because he would like to "play" with other kids more.
It is very difficult for me right now as we only know a few people here and none like-minded.
How r things with you and your family in Oregon? My son's father lives in Cannon Beach, OR.
rachael~; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Charissa Vaunderbroad on November 20, 2009 at 5:06pm: Hi Rachel,
Congrats on the move to Florida, I'm glad you found this site too.
There are a lot of supportive families here and be sure to check out Sandra Dodd's page, she's really nice and has helped me to "be on my kid's team"
http://www.sandradodd.com/; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by BetteAnne on November 23, 2009 at 1:38pm: Where in NJ are you? I have a place in Manahawkin, NJ.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rachael on November 30, 2009 at 9:37pm: Well we used to live in Hawthorne, but we recently moved to Florida. We are up visiting family/friends in Paterson, but we also have family in Forked River too:) We love Florida, but we do miss friends/family in NJ.

BetteAnne said:
Where in NJ are you? I have a place in Manahawkin, NJ.; ▶ Reply to This